Settling with CA - Questions/Help!

[MBOhio2]

At the end of November, we moved out of an apartment. Shortly afterward, we received a bill for $760 for "damages". Some of the items totaling about $375 are fairly legit so I'm happy to pay them. The other approx. $375 is absolutely bogus. The management office of the apartment complex was always terrible to work with and it's quite obvious they are just trying to make a buck with bogus charges in hopes that we'll pay them to be done with it.

I disputed the $375 in a very detailed manner (via email) with the apartment office, but they sent the account to collections anyway - the CA is Hunter Warfield. Over the last few weeks I've spoken with the CA a few times to explain the dispute. During a conversation yesterday, the CA rep was using confusing language clearly in an effort to confuse me (and get me to pay). As I asked him to explain, he finally became belligerent, yelled at me and hung up on me. I called back and spoke with a manager and it became clear that 1) these people are crazy and unethical and 2) if I don't pay them, they're going to report the collection account to the CBs in the next week or so - to be clear, the CA account is not yet on our credit reports.

As much as I don't want to pay for what are completely bogus charges, I also don't want to let $375 ruin my credit even more when I've been working so hard to repair it.

The manager from the CA offered me a settlement of $626, which is at least better than the full amount of $760. However, he said he would not provide the terms of the offer in writing (debt satisfied in full, no CB reporting) but that I could print a letter off of their website as soon as the settlement amount was paid - the letter would essentially state that the debt was satisfied but would make no mention of CB reporting. This felt really shady so I told him I would call him back. Here are my concerns:

1) I pay the debt and the CA reports the account to the CBs anyway - not sure how likely this is because what motivation would they have for reporting something that's already paid, but it still concerns me; and

2) I pay the $626 and the remainder is passed off to another CA or they continue to collect on it because it wasn't the full $760.

Can I get some thoughts/opinions on the above situation??

[MBOhio2]

I should add - my concern here is timing. Allegedly the CA reports next week (he said around the 28th) so I'm worried that if I become a stickler about getting the settlement offer in writing (e.g. send an offer letter myself), I'll end up reported to the CBs.

[MBOhio2]

Anyone have thoughts? I really need to pay this to prevent being reported to the CBs and was going to call the CA this afternoon to pay, but I want to hear from the experts first!

[llecs]

I would be concerned with the reversing course and saying that you only made a partial payment of the $760. I wouldn't pay unless they put it in writing. I've been burned by a CA before and read to many horror stories.

[MBOhio2]

Well, I paid the CA the settlement amount and did get a very formal letter stating that the debt had been settlement in full satisfaction of the debt.

While I am still a little uneasy about the reporting of the account (it hasn't been reported yet) the guy at the CA was actually very nice and assurred me that if it hasn't been reported yet it won't be - they have no interest in reporting accounts that have been paid.

I'm crossing my fingers!!

[RobertEG]

Just hope that the CA is being honest with you.  Settelement of the debt does not prohibit them from reporting to the CRA.  They were entitled to report as of the day they obtained collection authority, and can report it later.

[MBOhio2]

Yep, I am definitely hoping they're being honest... but honestly, if I hadn't paid then they deifnitely would have reported me, so at least my odds are better this way. And the debt needed to be taken care of too because I was getting nowhere disputing it. Ultimately, I had to take the path that would be most likley to prevent negative reporting.